Mechanically operated baby glider



Sept. 4, 1951 R COLTRANE 2,566,983

MECHANICALLY OPERATED BABY GLIDE-R Filed May 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l ER GOZZWQ/ INVENTOR P. R. COLTRANE MECHANICALLY OPERATED BABY GLIDER Sept. 4, 1951 Filed May .5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .2 ll. (laltmne INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,566,983 MECHANICALLY OPERATED-BABY GLIDER Preston R. Coltrane, Jacksonville, Fla.

Application May 3, ,1950, Serial No. 159,817-

1 Claim. (ore-.109)

This invention relates to a mechanically operated glider designed for operating a wheel supported baby basket in which babies or infants are resting.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is electrically controlled to cause the baby basket or container forming a part of the device to glide backwardly and forwardly, eliminating the necessity of manually operating the basket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the mechanism for operating the glider may be adjusted to vary the movements of the glider.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wheel supported platform on which the glider moves, to the end that the device may be readily and easily moved into and out of use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a baby crib or basket glider, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the gearing by means of which movement is transmitted from a motor, to the glider.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the gearing.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view illustrating the reverse side of the gearing supporting plate of the device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicates a wheel supported platform, which is rectangular in formation, the side rails 6 thereof being provided with grooves 1 disposed longitudinally of the upper surfaces thereof, the grooves extending to points adjacent to the ends of the side rails, as clearly shown by Fig. l of the drawings.

Casters 8 provide supports for the platform 5, by means of which the entire structure may be readily and easily moved from place to place in changing the location of the device, or moving the device to a storage room.

The glider proper includes the basket 9 supported by means of the legs [0 arranged at the l 2 four corners of the basket, the legs l0 being provided with casters II at their lower ends, which casters move in the grooves I, which are of widths to properly accommodate the casters without permitting the casters to move laterally during the operation of the glider.

Mounted between the side rails of the platform, is the supporting plate l2 on which the electric motor I3 is mounted, the electric motor I3 having a shaft M to which the collar I5 is connected, the collar l5 being also secured to one end of the worm shaft I6 mounted in the bearing arm I! that extends upwardly from the gear plate l8. Thi gear plate It is provided with spaced ears l9 between which the supporting post 20 is mounted, there being provided a securing screw 2i extending through the ears [9 and through an opening formed in the upper end of the supporting post 2i], to hold the post securely against movement with respect to the gear plate 18. The opposite end of the post 20 extends through an opening formed in the supporting plate [2, where it is secured by means of the nut 21 secured on the threaded portion of the post.

Formed on one end of the shaft I6 is the worm 22 that meshes with the teeth of the gear 23 which is secured to the shaft 24. Secured to one side of the gear 23, is the heart-shaped cam 25 which rotates with the shaft and gear. Pivotally mounted on the gear plate I8, is the lever' 26 which is formed with the lug 21 so constructed and arranged that it engages the edge of the heart-shaped cam 25, as the cam 25 rotates. The reference character 28 indicates a coiled spring that has one of its ends secured to the motor [3, through an opening formed in the ear 29 extending from the motor, the opposite end of the spring 28 being formed with a hook positioned in one of the openings 3% formed in the lever 26. Thus it will be seen that due to this connection between the spring 28 and lever 25, the tension of the spring 28 may be adjusted to meet various requirements.

Pivotaily connected with the upper end of the lever 26, is the arm 3i that has pivotal connection with the bracket 33 which is secured to the legs Hi at one end of the basket.

It will of course'be understood that the motor 53 is in circuit with a suitable source of electricity supply, such as the conventional house circuit, through the wires 34, so that the motor may be operated by merely plugging in the circuit.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the motor is operating, the lever 26 and arm 3| will be reciprocated, which will transmit move- 3 ment to the basket, causing the basket to glide forwardly and rearwardly without interruption, to the end that the desired gliding movement may be imparted to the basket without the necessity of manually moving the basket.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a glider of the class described, a wheel supported platform having grooves formed longitudinally of the upper surface thereof, a glider basket, legs supporting the basket, wheels mounted on the legs, said wheels operating within the grooves, an electric motor mounted on the platform, a gear plate mounted adjacent to the motor, said gearing including a heart-shaped cam operated by said electric motor, a lever pivotally mounted on the gear plate, a lug on said lever engaging said heart-shaped cam, a contractile spring connected with said lever and said motor normally drawing the lever and lug towards the cam, an arm connected with one end of the lever, and a link connecting the arm with the basket, whereby the basket is rolled forwardly and rearwardly as the motor operates.

PRESTON R. COLTRANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,803,887 Barnes May 5, 1931 1,909,204 Marchese May 16, 1933 1,999,957 Chlupsa Apr. 30, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 314,53? Italy Jan. 30, 1934 

